Process of reproducing



Patented May 18, 1937 NiTED STATS ATEN'E' FEE west Process Ca, of Michigan Detroit, Mich, a corporation No Drawing. Application May 10, 1935, Serial No. 20,831

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a process of reproducing from photographs and the like whereby plates for printing may be formed from the photograph and a multiple number of these plates produced of exactly the same dimensions and sizes. It is an object of the present invention to produce a multi-colored print of a photograph made from a plurality of prints each used for a separate color and in which all of the colors properly, and with precision, register.

It is another object of the invention to provide a process of reproducing whereby it becomes possible to produce a multiple number of printing plates from a photograph in which all of the plates may be placed in registration with each other.

It is another object of the invention to provide a process of reproducing in which a gelatine plate or carbon tissue may be used for the transferring of the image and in which all deformities resulting from contraction or expansion of the carbon tissue or the gelatine plate may be avoided.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the steps and operations which are herein defined and claimed.

The process is intended as a means for printing in colors, reproductions of photographs, displays, drawings, etc. The invention lends itself particularly for use in producing advertising cards, posters, etc. In printing these displays of more than one color it is necessary that a plate be used for each color and these printing plates must be of exactly the same dimensions, or the various colors, when superimposed, will not register.

In carrying out the process the photograph, print, drawing or the like is photographed and a half tone negative of the photograph made. From this negative a half tone positive is produced. This positive is then photographed, by the contact method, on to a carbon tissue which is generally faced with a gelatine plate. After the carbon tissue or gelatine plate is exposed to the light sufiiciently to transfer the image from the positive on to the carbon tissue, the positive is removed. It is then pasted along an end edge to a metallic supporting plate which is formed from zinc, copper or the like. This plate may be termed a temporary support. The edge is then inserted between a pair of revolving rollers and water is sprinkled upon the zinc plate so that when the carbon tissue folds over on to the plate the gelatine layer will become moistened on its face. This folding over proceeds as the plate is drawn through the rollers and thus the gelatine layer is firmly pressed upon the temporary supporting plate without any part of this gelatine layer becoming wet except the face thereof. The backing sheet is maintained in a dry state. The carbon tissue referred to consists of a body comprising a gelatine layer and a backing sheet, and the backing sheet may be removed from the gelatine layer under certain conditions, that is when the adhesion between the backing sheet and the gelatine layer has been overcome. A common way of doing this is by soaking the body until the adhesion between the backing sheet and the gelatine layer is overcome.

After being affixed to the temporary supporting plate, the plate is placed in warm water for developing and retained in warm water until the paper backing is released, whereupon it is removed from the gelatine layer. This gelatine layer is then transferred, by contact, to a silk sheet which serves as the printing sheet in the printing process. In making these transfers to the silk sheet, if the process described is followed, all of the gelatine layers will be of exactly the same size and dimension as no distortions and variations of the same can be effected through any operation which is carried on.

A method of reproducing has heretofore been attempted but in all the processes with which I am familiar, the gelatine plate has been soaked prior to its mounting upon the temporary support with the result that the gelatine would become thoroughly saturated and expand and warp. This soaking process was intended to prevent a curling of the carbon tissue when it was 35 placed on the temporary supporting plate but when my method of transference, by subjecting the same to the pressure of the rollers, is used all curling is avoided without necessitating the saturation of the gelatine layer.

Experience has shown that with the plates produced as defined multi-color printing may be resorted to and a clear registering of the various prints effected. Thus, a high grade work is produced at a minimum expense and with a minimum amount of labor.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred process I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details set out but to avail myself with such variations and modifications thereof as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of transferring an image to a 55 2 permanent supporting body consisting in producing a positive photograph of the image, printing from the positive, so produced, onto a carbon tissue having a gelatine layer thereon, aifixing the gelatinelayer, while maintaining the carbon tissue in a dry state, onto a temporary supporting body, soaking the carbon tissue and gelatine 'layer while so attached to the temporary supporting body, removing the carbon tissue from the gelatine layer,,and then transferring, by adhesion, the gelatine layer onto a permanent support, by contacting the same together.

2. The process of transferring an image to a flexible supporting body consisting in producing a positive photograph of the image, printing from the positive so produced onto a carbon tissue having a gelatine layer thereon, affixing the gelatine layer, while maintaining the carbon tissue in a dry state, on a temporary rigid supporting body by contacting the outer face of the gelatine layer with said body and moistening said face of said layer immediately prior to said contact, moistening the carbon tissue while so attached to the temporary supporting body sufficiently to permit its easy removal and removing the carbon tissue from the gelatine layer, and then transferring, by adhesion, the gelatine layer onto a permanent support by contacting the opposite face of said layer with said permanent support.

3. The process of transferring an image to a flexible supporting body consisting in producing a positive photograph of the image, printing from the positive, so produced, onto a carbon tissue having a gelatine layer thereon, affixing the gelatine layer, while maintaining the carbon tissue in a dry state, on a temporary rigid supporting body, by progressively pressing said gelatine layer against said rigid supporting body progressing from one end to the other and moistening the contacting face of said gelatine layer immediately prior to the pressing operation, soaking the carbon tissue and gelatine layer while so attached to the temporary supporting body sufficiently to permit the easy removal of the carbon tissue from the gelatine layer, removing the carbon tissue from the gelatine layer, and then transferring the gelatine layer onto a permanent support by contacting the same together.

4. The process of transferring an image to a permanent supporting body consisting in producing a positive photograph of the image, printing from the positive, so produced, onto a body comprising a backing sheet and a gelatine layer, affixing the gelatine layer, while maintaining the backing sheet in a dry condition, on a temporary supporting body, removing the backing sheet from said gelatine layer while so attached to the temporary supporting body, and then transferring the gelatine layer onto a permanent support by contacting a face of the gelatine layer with a face of the permanent support.

5. The process of transferring an image onto a permanent supporting member consisting in producing a photographic negative of the image on a body comprising a backing sheet and a gelatine layer, afiixing said layer by pressure, on a temporary rigid supporting member, while maintaining the backing sheet in a dry state, then moistening the gelatine layer and backing sheet sufficiently for permitting removal of the backing sheet from the gelatine layer and then mounting the gelatine layer on a permanent supporting member.

6. The process of transferring an image onto a supporting body consisting in producing a positive photograph of the image, printing from the positive, so produced, onto a body having a backing sheet and a gelatine layer thereon, affixing the gelatine layer, while maintaining the backing sheet in a dry condition, on a temporary supporting body, removing the backing sheet from said gelatine layer while so attached to the temporary supporting body, and then transfer:- ring by adhesion, the gelatine layer onto a permanent supporting body by contacting a face of the gelatine layer with a face of the supporting body.

JOSEPH JOHNSTON. 

